Iran set for serious’ talks with six world powers, IAEA - president

The IAEA chief said that a new package of practical measures to clarify disputable issues could be agreed soon

TEHRAN, August 17 /ITAR-TASS/. Iran is set for serious talks with six world powers (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its nuclear program, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday.

“Iran wants nothing more than its legitimate rights, including the right to enrichment for peaceful purposes,” the Iranian news agency IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying at a meeting with IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano in Tehran.

Over the past 12 years, “the International Atomic Energy Agency has regularly visited Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities and has repeatedly announced that there were no signs of deviation in the countryˈs nuclear program,” Rouhani said.

The Iranian president called on the UN nuclear watchdog to impartially deal with the Iran nuclear case.

Rouhani also said that Iran needed modern technologies, including access to nuclear technology for generating electricity and its applications in the fields of medicine, agriculture and industry.

On his part, the IAEA chief appreciated Iran’s readiness to show more transparency in its nuclear program, IRNA reported.

Amano said his brief visit to Iran had been useful to clarify issues related to the Islamic Republic’s controversial nuclear program.

“I was very glad to hear from the highest levels a firm commitment to the implementation of the Framework for Cooperation, and to resolve all present and past issues through dialogue and cooperation with the IAEA,” he said.

During the visit, officials from both sides were able to plan how to move ahead with the existing practical measures, Amano said. “We have proposed discussions on a number of new practical measures, to be taken up as the next step under the Framework for Cooperation. I hope these can take place in the near future,” the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said.

The IAEA head also said he was satisfied with how work proceeded on measures agreed by the parties, including the use of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators by Iran. “Iran has provided information and explanations to the Agency on its work post-2007 related to the application of EBW’s in the oil and gas industry which is not inconsistent with specialized industry practices,” the IAEA head said.

The use of Exploding Bridge Wire detonators was among the issues that raised concerns about the military focus of Iran’s nuclear research.

“The Agency will need to consider all past outstanding issues, including EBWs, integrating all of them in a system and assessing the system as a whole,” he said.

“The Agency remains committed to working with Iran, to resolve all past and present issues, through cooperation and dialog,” the head of the UN nuclear watchdog said.

Western nations suspect Iran of using its nuclear research for developing atomic weapons while Iran insists its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes only.